Are there really no wolves on Wolf Mountain?

Langshan Mountain. [Photo provided by Jiang Yinzi for en.nantong.gov.cn]

Nantong natives often say, "There're no wolves on Langshan Mountain, or Wolf Mountain, and there is no mountain in Guanyinshan subdistrict, or Guanyin Mountain subdistrict."

Is this true? Perhaps not.

The mountain earned its name for two main reasons. One is that it looks like a wolf and the other is that there are white wolves on the mountain.

A white wolf statue stands at the foot of Langshan Mountain. [Photo provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

A legend about white wolves has been spreading throughout the city. It states that Langshan Mountain was dominated by white wolf spirits, which endangered other living creatures. One day, Grand Holy Bodhisattva came to the mountain to promote Buddhist doctrines and wanted to temporarily make use of a place the size of his kasaya. The wolf spirits agreed to lend him the land, but to their surprise, the kasaya became large enough to shroud the entire mountain. These wolf spirits then left the mountain, but their name remained.

In reality, there are in fact wolves living on Langshan Mountain. With its mild climate and abundant rain, the mountain is a suitable habitat for wildlife and has been home to many different species. But due to the increasing human presence, the wildlife gradually retreated from the area.

Since the start of the 21st century, local authorities have been taking measures to protect the natural environment and wildlife, and a wide variety of wildlife has been found on the mountain.